How You Build

Someone asked me recently, “What would you do if no one showed up on Sunday morning to hear you preach?”

Such has never happened, but it’s been close!

What I would feel is disappointment, because my pride would be poked and popped.

What I would do is preach my heart out to an empty room because I don’t preach to be recognized by men, but to bring honor and glory to the God who has called me His own.

In First Corinthians 3, Paul writes that believers will be judged by God on how we build on the foundation which is Jesus Christ (v 10). And each one’s work will become clear; for the day will declare it … of what sort it is (v 13). We will not be judged by “what” we build, but “how” we build. We will be judged by “what sort it is.” Did we build for our own glory or for His? Did we serve for self-recognition or for blessing Him?

Those works built out of wrong motivations will be burnt up (v 13) though our souls are still saved (v 15), but if anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward (v 14).